“The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed- It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.” - William Shakespeare
It's become a happy pattern here of rain one day then two days of sunshine. Today and yesterday were sunshine days so perhaps tomorrow will rain. I recently watched "Singing in the rain" an old musical about when talkies were first introduced into motion pictures. It was fantastic and of course the key song is the joy of singing in the rain - that Love triumphs over the weather among other things.
I feel as if I have had several small epiphanies lately. Being in church the last couple of weeks has produced a sense of awe at the realization that at any moment on a Sunday somewhere in the world there are people Praising God. I know we should do so everyday in life but in the sense of literal singing songs of praise on a Sunday if you know what I mean. Thinking about the time difference, from the moment I woke up until I go to sleep someone is singing to God. It is a comforting though to know the body of Christ continues on in worship even when I am not singing myself and that we are all interconnected in the holy spirit. A continual wave of praise if you will that overlaps across the world's time zones and people.
It has also been a week of realizations for how little control I have over many things. I cannot change the attitudes or actions of my family or often even myself and I cannot earn significance or my salvation. It is all in the hands of Christ and while that is releasing in one sense it is also disquieting in another for I am used to doing, I am used to being useful. To depend fully on Christ for all needs is a bit uncomfortable and it makes me question what it means to really allow him to be enough, to be in relationship with the God of the universe. I have trouble loving and being in relationship with others around me.
Erica is here and it has been fun having her around. It has also made me realize how quickly I like and establish routines. Though I don't have a job I have gotten into the habit of breakfast with Rachael, some kinda yoga class, several hours spent at the library and or walking around town dropping of resumes and applying for jobs and then dinner with Rach and watching a movie before we fall asleep. May sound boring to some but I am enjoying the time with Rach, sleeping in, exploring Portland and seeing my family on the weekend. This week however my free yoga pass ran up and Erica is here making the week not routine. Don't misunderstand, I am super stoked she is here - I just have to remind myself in the morning that today is open for whatever fun thing we want to spontaneously do, to know we probably won't leave on time because we are all slow, and I won't get work done. When I remind myself of this first thing it is a good day - Erica is super wonderful and fun. We have gone hiking near Hood river, explored the Hawthorne district, had an impromptu fashion show, tried new restaurants and went to a movie. I just feel disrupted and stressed if I don't remind myself that the day is going to be that way. I am a weirdo.
At any rate, the area near Hood River was beautiful. Its a really quaint town and our hike was gorgeous, despite the rain. We had intended to make it all the way to Mt. Hood but due to the rain clouds we couldn't see much of the mountain and it was still a bit snowy there. We also went to the living room theater near Powell's book. Loved the small, hominess of it and the food/coffee was good. However the movie we watched was super strange, it was called the Imaginarum of Dr. Parnassus. I didn't love or hate it, but wouldn't watch it again. Rachael liked it and Erica hated it. Lol.
We also discovered a fun coffee shop in the hawthorn district, while there we had to write some fantastic letters on Hogwarts stationary and send it to a few people who shall not be named. You will soon know who you are.
Also we have gotten to peak at our new and improved apartment. It looks awesome. However it is going to be another week and half before its finished. Say a prayer if you read this that it would be finished a few days early. My clark street girls are coming to visit ( HOOORAY) and it will be super crowded if all 5 of us are in the small studio we are in right now. Worse case scenario it will be like our OC nights in the dorms, either way I am so glad they are coming. I am really enjoying Portland but missing the community back in Raleigh.
Lots of love my Chummly wummlies.
And I love Erica Bethel Metzger
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Jobs and Trolley rides
What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured.”
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. quotes
The old cliche of feeling utterly alone while being in a crowded room occurred for the first time since we have moved. Oh I have definitely missed people and places and longed for community but not the utter sense of loneliness. We had been in Portland for a week and having a pretty good time. We set up our temporary apartment, mom had come to visit, we had explored the city - which is amazing for people watching - and began the never ending search for jobs. Sunday was fast approaching and we were so excited about church. It has been two months since we were part of our church community, and yes it is very different from simply attending churches, which we had done along the way to get to Oregon and with our parents. We took the bus across town to Imago Dei and then the unexpected happened. Not a soul greeted us when we arrived and we arrive way early. We wandered around for a bit and then sat near the front. As people filed in they left a good five foot or longer gap on each side of us. No one said hello and there was no time of greeting during the service. Afterword no one said a word in the crowd of people as we left. It was a bit shell shocking for both of us coming from churches that place a big emphasis on recognizing new people and making them feel welcome. I was sought out at both Church of the Apostles and Vintage the first few times we were there, and both churches have greeters as well. Now I know that part of the blame lies on us. We could have easily said hello to people also but it was a shock none the same. Sitting there, even with Rach next to me, I realized just how far away our church community was and how frightening attending church alone must be for those who are new or who are not believers. What was also saddening was the realization that I was sitting with family and felt like a stranger. We were all part of the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit connecting each of us with lifelines of invisible threads. Rach and I both had to have a good cry when we got home - it was disheartening to experience this loneliness in the place we expected it least - church. It gave Rach and I new resolve to seek out those who are new and to welcome anyone to church and home - to be people of hospitable attitudes and hearts wherever we are.
Yet there is a silver lining always, and God hears our cries. As we had left church and were down the street walking to the bus station we asked a girl for directions. She was so nice, her name is Lena, and she offered us a ride home. We got to visiting and she invited us later in the week to her community group. She had such a welcoming and friendly spirit that it blessed the rest of the day. We did go to community group and the people and discussion were fantastic. Thank you Lord for Lena.
We are enjoying Portland and taking the trolley and walking everywhere. The first few days we probably walked over ten miles just exploring the neighborhoods near to us. There are so many good places to eat and coffee shops on every corner. The city and its people have such character and flavor.
Still hopeful for new friendships, jobs and excited that in a week and a half Erica will be here, followed shortly by other friends.
Love to each of you reading. We miss you.
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. quotes
The old cliche of feeling utterly alone while being in a crowded room occurred for the first time since we have moved. Oh I have definitely missed people and places and longed for community but not the utter sense of loneliness. We had been in Portland for a week and having a pretty good time. We set up our temporary apartment, mom had come to visit, we had explored the city - which is amazing for people watching - and began the never ending search for jobs. Sunday was fast approaching and we were so excited about church. It has been two months since we were part of our church community, and yes it is very different from simply attending churches, which we had done along the way to get to Oregon and with our parents. We took the bus across town to Imago Dei and then the unexpected happened. Not a soul greeted us when we arrived and we arrive way early. We wandered around for a bit and then sat near the front. As people filed in they left a good five foot or longer gap on each side of us. No one said hello and there was no time of greeting during the service. Afterword no one said a word in the crowd of people as we left. It was a bit shell shocking for both of us coming from churches that place a big emphasis on recognizing new people and making them feel welcome. I was sought out at both Church of the Apostles and Vintage the first few times we were there, and both churches have greeters as well. Now I know that part of the blame lies on us. We could have easily said hello to people also but it was a shock none the same. Sitting there, even with Rach next to me, I realized just how far away our church community was and how frightening attending church alone must be for those who are new or who are not believers. What was also saddening was the realization that I was sitting with family and felt like a stranger. We were all part of the body of Christ, the Holy Spirit connecting each of us with lifelines of invisible threads. Rach and I both had to have a good cry when we got home - it was disheartening to experience this loneliness in the place we expected it least - church. It gave Rach and I new resolve to seek out those who are new and to welcome anyone to church and home - to be people of hospitable attitudes and hearts wherever we are.
Yet there is a silver lining always, and God hears our cries. As we had left church and were down the street walking to the bus station we asked a girl for directions. She was so nice, her name is Lena, and she offered us a ride home. We got to visiting and she invited us later in the week to her community group. She had such a welcoming and friendly spirit that it blessed the rest of the day. We did go to community group and the people and discussion were fantastic. Thank you Lord for Lena.
We are enjoying Portland and taking the trolley and walking everywhere. The first few days we probably walked over ten miles just exploring the neighborhoods near to us. There are so many good places to eat and coffee shops on every corner. The city and its people have such character and flavor.
Still hopeful for new friendships, jobs and excited that in a week and a half Erica will be here, followed shortly by other friends.
Love to each of you reading. We miss you.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
!
"The nice thing about Portland is that it rises into hills, and they're the most livable hills you ever saw. Thousands of people live up there in fine houses, among trees, looking hundreds of feet down onto the city."
-- Home Country Ernie Pyle
Monday we are moving to Portland. Things haven't quite worked out as we expected but all in all still a blessing. We found an amazing apartment on Park avenue ( Sounds all NYC or Monopoly fabulous). However the previous residents had lived there for thirty years and the owner wants to renovate the entire apartment before we move in. It is going to be even more fabulous then it already is when they are finished, but it means we can't move in for another two or three weeks. Our building manager is super nice and he agreed to let us move into an empty smaller study for two weeks while we wait for our apartment to be finished. So for the time being we are only taking ourselves, our clothes a desk and a chair to our temporary apartment.
Being home has been really good. Time with family and lots of movies. I feel as if I am in some strange vacation limbo since I do not have a job yet and my days have consisted of school applications, eating, going to the gym and games.
I am excited to be settled in Portland, put my nose to the grindstone to find a job and explore my new home. Rachael has been accepted in the yoga program she was excited about and received a scholarship for it (fantastic!!!)
I am missing friends, and the regularity of a job and church family. We shall see where this goes...
I remain Hopeful!
-- Home Country Ernie Pyle
Monday we are moving to Portland. Things haven't quite worked out as we expected but all in all still a blessing. We found an amazing apartment on Park avenue ( Sounds all NYC or Monopoly fabulous). However the previous residents had lived there for thirty years and the owner wants to renovate the entire apartment before we move in. It is going to be even more fabulous then it already is when they are finished, but it means we can't move in for another two or three weeks. Our building manager is super nice and he agreed to let us move into an empty smaller study for two weeks while we wait for our apartment to be finished. So for the time being we are only taking ourselves, our clothes a desk and a chair to our temporary apartment.
Being home has been really good. Time with family and lots of movies. I feel as if I am in some strange vacation limbo since I do not have a job yet and my days have consisted of school applications, eating, going to the gym and games.
I am excited to be settled in Portland, put my nose to the grindstone to find a job and explore my new home. Rachael has been accepted in the yoga program she was excited about and received a scholarship for it (fantastic!!!)
I am missing friends, and the regularity of a job and church family. We shall see where this goes...
I remain Hopeful!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Our first days in Oregon..
"Can miles truly separate us from friends? If we want to be with someone we love, aren't we already there?"
~ Richard Bach
We spent the next day or so just relaxing, hanging out with family and going to the gym. Jackson had a basketball game in Lebanon that we watched ( and he did awesome, his team won) and I got to go and visit Krissy and see her precious baby boy Grayson. LOVED HIM, he's adorable. We have also watched a lot of tv and movies - which seems the be the trend when we are home and want to do nothing.
After being here for a day or so we headed up to Portland to view our potential apartment and to search other neighborhoods and apartments in case our original choice didn't work out. As we tried to get out the door we realize there are no Wachovias in portland ( though I believe there used to be) and the woman at our home bank had informed us we would be able to use the Wells Fargo banks by the time we got her. Not true evidently it will be July before that happens. Grrrrrrr
So somehow we need to pay our first and last month's rent somewhere and then close out our accounts by phone and have them send us a check, hopefully that won't take forever.
At any rate we arrived in Portland and the apartment manager let us see the potential apartment and it is BEAUTIFUL. Its a double studio apartment with a big bay window, walk in closet and claw foot tub in the bathroom. The current residence have been there for thrity years. When they move out the building manager is replacing the carpet with wood floors and updating the stove. And then we are IN. We cannot wait. My grandmother gave us some kitchen appliances and my mom has been gracious about sharing her furniture with us so we have something to sit on.
After looking at the apartment Rach went to check out the yoga studio she may be doing her teaching certification at and I headed to the Library to do some research for my MSW essay and jobs etc. The neighborhood was north of where our apartment might be and super cute. Each of the different neighborhoods in Portland has its own flavor and I cannot wait to taste each one! We also explored the Hawthorne district on the east side of portland. There were several back up apartments there were interested in just in case. They also had some awesome antique and eclectic shops we want to come back to. That evening we headed back down town to Kells Irish pub to meet a friend Rachael met in Italy and possibly apply for a job at the pub. When we had finished our drink at the pub we drove through chinatown and the pearl distric and then headed home.
Were one step closer to being in Portland. Gorgeous apartment here we come!
~ Richard Bach
We spent the next day or so just relaxing, hanging out with family and going to the gym. Jackson had a basketball game in Lebanon that we watched ( and he did awesome, his team won) and I got to go and visit Krissy and see her precious baby boy Grayson. LOVED HIM, he's adorable. We have also watched a lot of tv and movies - which seems the be the trend when we are home and want to do nothing.
After being here for a day or so we headed up to Portland to view our potential apartment and to search other neighborhoods and apartments in case our original choice didn't work out. As we tried to get out the door we realize there are no Wachovias in portland ( though I believe there used to be) and the woman at our home bank had informed us we would be able to use the Wells Fargo banks by the time we got her. Not true evidently it will be July before that happens. Grrrrrrr
So somehow we need to pay our first and last month's rent somewhere and then close out our accounts by phone and have them send us a check, hopefully that won't take forever.
At any rate we arrived in Portland and the apartment manager let us see the potential apartment and it is BEAUTIFUL. Its a double studio apartment with a big bay window, walk in closet and claw foot tub in the bathroom. The current residence have been there for thrity years. When they move out the building manager is replacing the carpet with wood floors and updating the stove. And then we are IN. We cannot wait. My grandmother gave us some kitchen appliances and my mom has been gracious about sharing her furniture with us so we have something to sit on.
After looking at the apartment Rach went to check out the yoga studio she may be doing her teaching certification at and I headed to the Library to do some research for my MSW essay and jobs etc. The neighborhood was north of where our apartment might be and super cute. Each of the different neighborhoods in Portland has its own flavor and I cannot wait to taste each one! We also explored the Hawthorne district on the east side of portland. There were several back up apartments there were interested in just in case. They also had some awesome antique and eclectic shops we want to come back to. That evening we headed back down town to Kells Irish pub to meet a friend Rachael met in Italy and possibly apply for a job at the pub. When we had finished our drink at the pub we drove through chinatown and the pearl distric and then headed home.
Were one step closer to being in Portland. Gorgeous apartment here we come!
ohhh Suzi....
People sit around and wait for that "dare-to-be-great" situation, never realizing that its up to us to go out there and look for it.
The Garmin took us on the super back country roads to get us to our Aunt and Uncles house in Elmira Oregon. Due to the recent storm there were tree limbs everywhere so it took some tricky navigation at points and slow driving to get around them. It was midnight when we arrive so everyone was asleep except for my sweet uncle john who was up playing a game and waiting for us. It was good visiting with him for a bit since he would be busy at work the next day and gone before we got up. After visiting we watched an episode of the nanny, I know we have a problem, and then crashed.
We were awakened bright and early by our cousin Quinn, who had actually woken up when we arrived the night before hugged us and went back to bed. They were eager to tell us about school and life which I love. They are some of the sweetest most outgoing kids I know. My Aunt Amy was up as well and while we all visited and grabbed breakfast ( and I did an " I spy" book with Quinn who I am pretty sure at the age of 5 beat me) and then the kids were off to school for the day.
Rachael and I got Aunt Amy to ourselves for awhile which is always fun since she is Fabulous. She caught us up on what was happening with the kids in school, with my uncle's business and with her own job hunt. Oregon has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the nation and my uncle owns a construction business and it has been a rough few years. Thankfully my uncle and aunt are super resourceful and have been finding small things here and there to get what they need. Amy even had a second interview that day for a parenting/child non profit advocacy group. It sounded like the ideal job for her - she would be going into people's homes after they have a baby to help with feeding the baby, nutrition and any parenting questions. Sounds like fun right. She is going to let us know when they get back to her but we will be praying she gets the job.
Aunt Amy fed us and then started to get ready for her interview and we headed on our way to Albany. Its only about a 45 minute drive north and the sky after the rain and storms was beautiful. We were out in the very very green country with lots of sheep and farm animals and to be honest it reminds us a bit of the pictures from rural Ireland.
And then we were back at my parents house. It doesn't' seem that we've been gone that long since we were home for thanksgiving and normally it is about 6 months between our visits. It was equally strange to pull up in our own car and with all our stuff. This is actually moving and not just for week long visit. The enormity of it hasn't sunk in quite yet. Especially since we aren't in our own apartment yet.
Christian was there to greet us and hang out for a bit when we got home and then I promptly fell asleep on the couch until dinner time. We hadn't got much sleep the night before and I was exhausted. Rach stayed awake to play video games and visit with Christian and Jackson. I woke up in time for dinner and to see me madre!
I love my family. Oregon we've arrived are you ready for us?
The Garmin took us on the super back country roads to get us to our Aunt and Uncles house in Elmira Oregon. Due to the recent storm there were tree limbs everywhere so it took some tricky navigation at points and slow driving to get around them. It was midnight when we arrive so everyone was asleep except for my sweet uncle john who was up playing a game and waiting for us. It was good visiting with him for a bit since he would be busy at work the next day and gone before we got up. After visiting we watched an episode of the nanny, I know we have a problem, and then crashed.
We were awakened bright and early by our cousin Quinn, who had actually woken up when we arrived the night before hugged us and went back to bed. They were eager to tell us about school and life which I love. They are some of the sweetest most outgoing kids I know. My Aunt Amy was up as well and while we all visited and grabbed breakfast ( and I did an " I spy" book with Quinn who I am pretty sure at the age of 5 beat me) and then the kids were off to school for the day.
Rachael and I got Aunt Amy to ourselves for awhile which is always fun since she is Fabulous. She caught us up on what was happening with the kids in school, with my uncle's business and with her own job hunt. Oregon has one of the highest rates of unemployment in the nation and my uncle owns a construction business and it has been a rough few years. Thankfully my uncle and aunt are super resourceful and have been finding small things here and there to get what they need. Amy even had a second interview that day for a parenting/child non profit advocacy group. It sounded like the ideal job for her - she would be going into people's homes after they have a baby to help with feeding the baby, nutrition and any parenting questions. Sounds like fun right. She is going to let us know when they get back to her but we will be praying she gets the job.
Aunt Amy fed us and then started to get ready for her interview and we headed on our way to Albany. Its only about a 45 minute drive north and the sky after the rain and storms was beautiful. We were out in the very very green country with lots of sheep and farm animals and to be honest it reminds us a bit of the pictures from rural Ireland.
And then we were back at my parents house. It doesn't' seem that we've been gone that long since we were home for thanksgiving and normally it is about 6 months between our visits. It was equally strange to pull up in our own car and with all our stuff. This is actually moving and not just for week long visit. The enormity of it hasn't sunk in quite yet. Especially since we aren't in our own apartment yet.
Christian was there to greet us and hang out for a bit when we got home and then I promptly fell asleep on the couch until dinner time. We hadn't got much sleep the night before and I was exhausted. Rach stayed awake to play video games and visit with Christian and Jackson. I woke up in time for dinner and to see me madre!
I love my family. Oregon we've arrived are you ready for us?
The long trek up California...
"For the man sound in body and serene of mind there is no such thing as bad weather; every sky has its beauty, and storms which whip the blood do but make it pulse more vigorously."
George Gissing
Leaving Carmel Valley fairly early ( especially for us) we stopped a town over to get our oil changed. We had gone well over the 3000 mile mark since starting the trip. The guys at a local jiffy lube were super helpful and super fast. They were about our age and joked with us and in less then TEN MINUTES our car was ready to go. I have never had my oil changed that quickly, the also gave us a discount and told us that if you get your oil changed at Jiffy lube you can stop any time between oil changes and they will check and top off your oil for free. SWEET. It pays to smile and be nice to people. It was rainy and nasty all along 101 as we headed towards San Fran and the weather didn't clear until we intersected with Hwy 5 and headed inland and then north. Evidently three different storms were headed towards San Fran and we decided that our adventure would not be as fun in the pouring rain, and we were invited back to Carmel when the weather is more cooperative.
We stopped several hours in around Redding California to hunt for food. I had already decided that we weren't getting Taco Bell again. Rach wanted Chinese but we couldn't find any for a decent price. We had just finished talking to my grandma Jeanine, whose birthday it was - HAPPY BIRTHDAY GMA - and they had stopped at Sizzler. yummmm - normally we had a no buffet rule but since we hadn't gotten to do all our fun stuff in San Fran we decided to splurge. This sizzler was a lot nicer than the sizzlers I remembered and they had fresh Guacamole!!! Again yum - We write a lot about food lol. Reminds me of the Jim Gaffigan comedy. If you haven't seen him go look him up. Hot Pockets!
The remainder of the trip was pretty standard until we reached the mountains. It was snowing and dark and the trucks blew past us and showered us in snow and ice until we couldn't see out of the window. Rach was driving and all she could do was keeping driving straight and follow the taillights of the cars in front of us. Making it off the mountain was a huge relief. I was exhausted and fell asleep and pretty much woke up when we reached Elmira and aunt Amy's house. Thank goodness for family and Rachael driving.
Oregon we have finally arrived.
George Gissing
Leaving Carmel Valley fairly early ( especially for us) we stopped a town over to get our oil changed. We had gone well over the 3000 mile mark since starting the trip. The guys at a local jiffy lube were super helpful and super fast. They were about our age and joked with us and in less then TEN MINUTES our car was ready to go. I have never had my oil changed that quickly, the also gave us a discount and told us that if you get your oil changed at Jiffy lube you can stop any time between oil changes and they will check and top off your oil for free. SWEET. It pays to smile and be nice to people. It was rainy and nasty all along 101 as we headed towards San Fran and the weather didn't clear until we intersected with Hwy 5 and headed inland and then north. Evidently three different storms were headed towards San Fran and we decided that our adventure would not be as fun in the pouring rain, and we were invited back to Carmel when the weather is more cooperative.
We stopped several hours in around Redding California to hunt for food. I had already decided that we weren't getting Taco Bell again. Rach wanted Chinese but we couldn't find any for a decent price. We had just finished talking to my grandma Jeanine, whose birthday it was - HAPPY BIRTHDAY GMA - and they had stopped at Sizzler. yummmm - normally we had a no buffet rule but since we hadn't gotten to do all our fun stuff in San Fran we decided to splurge. This sizzler was a lot nicer than the sizzlers I remembered and they had fresh Guacamole!!! Again yum - We write a lot about food lol. Reminds me of the Jim Gaffigan comedy. If you haven't seen him go look him up. Hot Pockets!
The remainder of the trip was pretty standard until we reached the mountains. It was snowing and dark and the trucks blew past us and showered us in snow and ice until we couldn't see out of the window. Rach was driving and all she could do was keeping driving straight and follow the taillights of the cars in front of us. Making it off the mountain was a huge relief. I was exhausted and fell asleep and pretty much woke up when we reached Elmira and aunt Amy's house. Thank goodness for family and Rachael driving.
Oregon we have finally arrived.
Big Sur and Carmel Valley
“Big Sur is the California that men dreamed of years ago, this is the Pacific that Balboa looked at from the Peak of Darien, this is the face of the earth as the Creator intended it to look”
Henry Miller
Originally we were going to stay and enjoy Orange County for another day, but since we had been extremely lazy and we wanted to arrive in Oregon by a certain date to see my brothers basketball game, we decided to leave a day early. We woke up fairly early that morning, at least for us, got everything packed up, took some fantastic pictures and jumped in the car.
It started out as a warm pretty day and we had planned to stop at the Santa Monica Pier and then go to the beach in Santa Barbara. However once we got outside of LA the sky clouded over, everything became grey and the heavens opened up.( LA by the way seemed amazing. It is yet another place I would love to see when we have more time. Bobbe Colley had told us stories about old Hollywood and I want to be the typical tourist and see things like the chinese theatre) It was the first time it had rained since we started our road trip. We skipped the Santa Monica Pier and kept on trekking to make it to Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara is a cute little town nestled along the coast. It was still rainy and grey so the beach was out, instead we wandered down the waterfront under the umbrella eating PB&J . The Pier was nearby so we walked to the end of it. To our left was a giant Pelican that let us come right up next to it.
Getting pretty wet we headed back to the car and up the coast. We tried to stop at Hearst Castle just to see it in the distance but it was toucked up into the trees and we couldn't see it. We kept on and reached the edges of Big Sur as the sun was setting. It was beautiful, but slow driving as we winded right along the cliffs next to the ocean. It was breathtaking until it got dark and then it was just scary. We had to go very slow because it was steep and winding and we couldn't see very far in front of us. 
We reached carmed valley late. Phyliss is a distant relative of ours and a good friend of our Aunt Noni and grandma Jeanine. She has a cute little red cottage tucked into the hills. She in her sweet way had prepared a yummy dinner of stew for us ( perfect for a rainy dreary days) We visited with her about her 30 years of adventure in the navy and all her travels. She has been to Europe, all over the United States and seen every National Park in the country.
The next morning after breakfast and watching the weather we realized three storms were slated to hit San Francisco and the coast area. Sadness. We wanted to go to fishermans wharf, take the ferry to Tiberon, spend the night in a hostel and then bike across the golden gate bridge the next day and see the sites. That was out thanks to the weather. We didn't want to spend the nex two or three days soaking wet so we decided to push hard and make it to Elmira, Oregon near Eugene to our Aunt Amy's house.
Oregon Here we come, the next to last part of our trip.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)